Islamophobia underpins various challenges in the world, from the refugee crisis, the destabilisation of the Middle East, to the global economic downturn. Programme director at the Centre for Mediation in Africa at the University of Pretoria, Dr Quraysha Ismail Sooliman says that this is due to the perspective that Islam and Orthodox Christianity do not fit in with modern Western ideologies. This then gives rise to the view that the only civilization is that of the West, and anything that opposes that is a threat that must be addressed. Sooliman was speaking as the world marked the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia this week. While Islam has answers for every aspect of life, the fear of the faith, and its followers remains a challenge. Sooliman says that even Islam’s approach to economics threatens Western ideologies.